"Thank you," I answered. She was always so sweet to me.
"Are you ready?" I asked, reaching out and taking her hand in mine.
"Always," she said. "But where are we going?"
"You’ll see," I answered.
I helped her into the car, and a few minutes later, we pulled up to the beach. I grabbed a blanket, led her down the path, and set up a spot on the sand.
"Do you recognize where we are?" I asked once we were sitting.
"We’re at the beach," she answered, with a confused look on her face.
"I know we’re at the beach, silly," I said. "But do you know exactly where?"
She shook her head. "Not exactly."
"Perhaps this will help you remember," I said.
I signaled behind me, and suddenly a girl came walking from behind us, carrying a surfboard with the leash attached to her ankle. Brenna gasped as she watched the girl walk towards the edge of the water, and then smiled as she saw Rylan run up to the girl and help her take off the leash. He picked up the board, and they both walked back up the path.
"Oh my goodness," Brenna said softly. She looked up at me, and I could see her eyes brimming with tears.
"That was here?" she asked.
"That was here," I answered. "Right on this very spot, I saw you walking with that silly leash attached to your ankle. After spending that day with you, it solidified what I had always thought to be true: you were the coolest girl ever."
Brenna smiled, and I once again signaled behind me. This time just Rylan walked back down the path and came and sat down with us.
"After that day, you went to the other side of the country. About six years after that day, Rylan came to live with me and forever changed me. Something beautiful has managed to come out of the darkest, most horrific moment in our lives."
I stopped for a moment, too emotional to speak. Rylan gently placed his hand on my back, and Brenna wiped a tear away from her cheek. I took a deep breath and then continued.
"Two years after that, he became my son. Our little family grew stronger, we fell into a good routine, and we were cruising along. And then, one day when I was driving home from work, who did I happen to see? It was you. The coolest girl ever."
Brenna smiled.
"Every moment since then has been wonderful," I said. "You make everything better for both of us. Our lives are richer for knowing you."
Once again, I got choked up as I noticed Rylan nodding in agreement.
"And now, I know that this is a moment that is normally just between two people, but I am not just one person. You have my heart, and you have Rylan’s. We both love you so much."
As I got on one knee, I noticed the tears pouring down Brenna’s face, her hands shaking, but her eyes shining with happiness. I held out the ring, and she gasped.
"And so now, Miss Brenna Jensen, the coolest girl ever, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and making our home complete?"
"Yes," Brenna said softly. "Of course, yes!"
I placed the ring on her trembling finger, and then she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me.
"Congratulations!" Rylan said.
"Thank you," Brenna answered. "Can I hug you?"
Rylan nodded, blushing. Brenna hugged him, and then Rylan hugged me. He nervously cleared his throat.
"Uh, so, Miss Brenna, I have something for you," he said. "I don’t really have a speech or anything, but I want you to have this. I guess I just figured that it would be kinda weird for me to call you Miss Brenna once you married Papa Josh, so, uh, here."
